Lake County Gazette

**Article: Bangs Lake Continues Treatment for Invasive Plant Species**

The Village has contracted with ILM to complete Year 2 of a 3-year whole-lake herbicide treatment targeting non-native/invasive Eurasian Milfoil and Curly- leaf Pondweed. Year 1 treatment began in March 2024 and showed positive results with a decrease in non-native/invasive species and an increase in native species. With this success, ILM is set to conduct another round of treatment starting April 4, 2025. There are no restrictions on lake use during treatment. For more information about the treatment process and the herbicide SONAR being used, Bangs Lake water quality test reports, and treatment updates, visit the Bangs Lake Management webpage.

In 2024, Bangs Lake SONAR Pre-Treatment and Post-Treatment Results were collected by ILM through rake tosses from April 8 to August 12 to compare plant densities of non-native/invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil and Curly-leaf Pondweed versus native plants such as Eel grass, Flat stemmed PW, Leafy PW, and Chara among others. Aerial maps from 2010, 2023, and 2024 show density of non- native/invasive species at various depths. The April 8 pre-treatment plant survey found native plant species represented seven times in 13 locations and invasive plant species represented eight times in 13 locations. The August 12 post-treatment plant survey found native plant species represented 27 times in 13 locations and invasive plant species represented two times in 13 locations.

Signs indicating application of the SONAR treatment will be posted throughout the Village near the lake.